Trailing 2-0 late in the first half, Cooper Karlin and the Bobcats knew they were going to have to scratch and claw their way back into the game.

After narrowly missing on several scoring opportunities, the Bobcat defense locked down on the 10U Thunderbolts attack, connected on a couple of second-half goals and earned a 2-2 tie Saturday at Youth Sports Inc.

“That was a hard-fought tie,” said an ecstatic Bobcat head coach John Peppin.

Already trailing by a couple of Thunderbolt goals, Karlin was able to hold things together for the Bobcats, stuffing the Thunderbolts on two separate occasions. Karlin got a foot on the ball after stalling a Thunderbolt breakaway and cleared the ball from danger. Later in the second half, Karlin cleared a shot by Bailey Pattin, the offensive force for the Thunderbolts, as the ball danced along the goal line.

However, it was the Thunderbolts who were able to apply the early pressure, connecting on a couple of nifty goals. Pattin opened the scoring for the Thunderbolts when he positioned himself in front of the goal looking to get open for fellow teammate Eliza Anderson. Anderson zipped a pass through a crowd of defenders, and Pattin knocked in the first goal.

The Thunderbolts recorded their second goal of the day thanks to Jacob Morgison. The defensive specialist broke up a Bobcat threat and let loose a one-timer that skidded just past the outstretched arms of the Bobcat keeper.

The Thunderbolts were able to play exceptional team defense, holding the Bobcats scoreless in the first half. Travis Treanor opened the game in goal for the Thunderbolts, brushing aside every Bobcat shot he faced. Treanor was not left alone, receiving plenty of help from Cheylin Ricley, who slowed the Bobcat attack. Ricley was able to use her speed and elusiveness to steal the ball from Bobcat forwards and juke her way downfield.

Willing to mix it up, Nikki Lee Aguilar came up with several key contributions for the Thunderbolts. Aguilar’s aggressive defense and second-half offense were vital for the Thunderbolts to apply the early pressure and hang on for the tie.

Nikki Lee Aguilar, accepts a pass from a Thunderbolt teammate as teammate Bailey Pattin looks on during the Thunderbolts' game against the Bobcats Saturday at Youth Sports Inc. The contest ended in a two-all tie.

However, it was the Bobcats who must have had the better batch of oranges at the half. They rallied to score two goals, forcing a tie with the Thunderbolts.

“The kids were able to keep their heads in the game despite trailing 2-0 and made a nice comeback,” Peppin said.

Nolan Stoppel of the Bobcats was able to connect on the early second-half goal, giving the Bobcats the necessary boost for a comeback. Stoppel received a feed from teammate Jensen Edwards at the midline, bulled his way through three Thunderbolt defenders and squeaked a shot just past the Thunderbolt defense.

After playing exceptional defense all game, Karlin decided to display his offensive abilities. Shortly after the Stoppel goal, Karlin came up with a strong defensive stand and charged full-field, burying a shot in the bottom left corner of the goal, tying the score up for the Bobcats.

The rest of the game found both teams playing conservatively, positioning the defense to hold the tie.